COLUMN: NCAA Tournament doesn't disappoint — again

You could see it coming. The critics were howling with delight — or derision — when No. 1 Gonzaga bowed out of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday after losing to ninth-seed Wichita State in the Round of 32.

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By Lee Goodwin

Waynesboro Record Herald - Waynesboro, PA

By Lee Goodwin

Posted Mar. 25, 2013 at 12:00 PM

By Lee Goodwin

Posted Mar. 25, 2013 at 12:00 PM

You could see it coming.

The critics were howling with delight — or derision — when No. 1 Gonzaga bowed out of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday after losing to ninth-seed Wichita State in the Round of 32.

It seems to be an annual vigil with the Portland, Ore. school that has seen its share of successful regular-season teams, only to be bounced from the Big Dance early every year. This time around marks the fourth straight year the Zags have failed to make it to the Sweet 16.

Whether it was an affront to the wisdom of the pollsters that vaulted Gonzaga to the top spot in the final regular season AP poll, or just bad luck for a team that lacks star power or suffers from mediocre competition during the season, the Zags are home watching the rest of the tournament.

Gonzaga advanced to the third round after a less-than-impressive 64-58 win over 16th seed Southern University on Thursday. The Shockers then ended the Zags’ season 76-70 two days later.

But, instead of focusing on the teams that lose in the NCAA Tournament, what about the teams that win? Like Wichita State, La Salle, and that team from Ft. Myers, Fla. (Florida Gulf Coast)? FGC shocked second-seed Georgetown on Friday, while Wichita State and La Salle enter the Sweet 16 facing each other as the 12th and 13th seeds, respectively. That means a team not expected to make it past the second round (it’s called that now because of the First Four) will be playing in a regional final game.

The winner of La Salle-Wichita State will face the winner of Arizona-Ohio State for the regional championship and the right to play in the Final Four.

The feel-good story of the tourney is Florida Gulf Coast, a team playing in its first ever NCAA Tournament. The Atlantic Sun champions not only upset the Hoyas, they outright beat them, winning 78-68. They followed that win with an 81-71 win over seventh-seed San Diego State on Sunday. Next up for FGC is third-seed Florida.

The other three regional number one seeds advanced to the Sweet 16: Louisville, Kansas and Indiana. Indiana trailed Temple late before pulling out a 58-52 victory. The Hoosiers face fourth-seed Syracuse.

The top four seeds in the East Region all made it to the fourth round. No. 2 Miami will play No. 3 Marquette. No. 2 Duke squares off against No. 3 Michigan State for the right to play the winner of Louisville-Oregon. The Ducks are seeded 12th out of the Midwest Region.

Meanwhile, three of the top four seeds in the South Region advanced, with the only anomaly being Florida Gulf coast. Kansas plays No. 4 Michigan Friday.

So, in the final analysis, there were few deviations from the projected order of things in this year’s tournament. However, there were enough to keep things interesting and dramatic. Like Butler’s unprecedented back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Championship game in 2010 and 2011 as a “mid major” school, there will be many fans pulling for the underdogs again this year.

Page 2 of 2 - The only thing certain is there will be a new national champion, because last year’s winner, Kentucky, didn’t even make the field this year.

However, it is possible that all four Big 10 teams can reach the Final Four. Is it likely? Probably not, but, anything can happen during March Madness. Like a snowstorm a week before the start of the Major League Baseball season.